About seven percent of high school athletes go on to play at the collegiate level. According to the NCAA, less than two percent of high school athletes make it to NCAA Division I programs. The few students who advance to collegiate athletics undergo a long and rigorous process when committing to their sport. To fill their rosters, college coaches recruit by assessing high school athletes, considering factors like strong athletic backgrounds, positive program impact, and solid academic performance. While athletes can verbally commit as early as seventh grade, most coaches extend offers during athletes’ junior years.
This past year, the athletic department launched a new athletics page to keep students, faculty, and families updated on everything they need to know about SPA’s athletics, and the site includes but is not limited to, schedules, rosters, awards and handbooks. Most notably, the website houses a college recruiting checklist, created by Director of Athletics Paul Moyer, that contains essential information for prospective collegiate student-athletes. “I think our school is getting better at giving student-athletes the idea of possibly playing beyond high school […] and this new website is a beneficial upgrade,” Moyer said. The checklist outlines requirements colleges look for at each grade level, such as taking the ACT or SAT, creating a resumé, and compiling a list of target schools, along with suggestions for tasks to complete at one’s own pace.
Any athlete can play in college—it’s all about finding the right fit. Important factors to consider include the size of the school, its location, academic programs, and athletic opportunities. Evaluating these elements helps ensure a college aligns with both the student-athlete’s athletic and academic ambitions.
Depending on the sport, whether individual or team-based, coaches like to see statistics, grades, and leadership skills of prospective athletes. A helpful step in recruiting is for athletes to compare their stats with current team members. For sports without formal statistics, athletes can review collegiate rosters to understand positional needs when they’re likely to join. For sports like swimming or track, reviewing times provides a tangible goal for students interested in continuing their sport, whether at varsity or club level.
The recruiting process is strenuous. Athletes interested in extending their career put in substantial effort to get noticed, including sending emails and highlight videos to coaches. This process often begins as early as seventh grade, the first year athletes are able to play for varsity-level teams, and it can extend as late as the fall of their senior year.
Depending on the sport, however, NCAA rules can prohibit recruitment communication with athletes under a certain age to help them make decisions without unnecessary pressure, and allowing them time to consider what they truly seek in a school.
“Athletics is a part of a student’s development and journey […] it’s part of their being; it shapes who we are,” said Athletic Director Paul Moyer. Pursuing collegiate athletics requires both passion and persistence. For student-athletes, setting clear goals and finding the right fit are vital steps in this journey.
